The State Department announced its readiness for negotiations with Russia on armaments

“The President (USA Donald Trump. - RT ) instructed us to think broader than the START Treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. - RT ) and include both China and Russia in our next steps. We are ready to participate in arms control negotiations that meet our criteria with both, ”said a spokesman for the United States Foreign Office.

According to him, Washington remains committed to effective arms control, which contributes to the security of the United States and its partners.

Another State Department spokesman said that the United States has not yet received Beijing’s response to an invitation to a strategic security dialogue.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced the suspension of the START-III inspection as agreed by the parties due to the coronavirus pandemic.

At the end of February, the United States refused to meet with American and Russian lawyers to work out the details of the extension of strategic offensive arms.

Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya noted that Moscow is waiting for a response to the proposal to extend START III without preconditions.